NJSACOP RETIRED MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
April 2026 | The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine 32
One in an occasional series
NJSACOP RETIRED MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
Chief Ken Ferrante
Hoboken Police Department
NJSACOP is spotlighting retired police chiefs who have moved on to successful careers in other professions. In this edition, we highlight Chief Ken Ferrante.
Kenneth Ferrante served with the Hoboken Police Department for 28 years, with seven of those as Chief of Police. Following his retirement, Chief Ferrante took on a new role as Hoboken’ s Public Safety Director, overseeing the city’ s Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management and Health Division.
What job skills did you develop as a police chief that you now use in your career?
I learned social media skills, budgeting, scheduling and how to conduct meaningful and informative media interviews. These are all leadership skills that translate well into my current position.
What are you most proud of from your years of police work?
Being a police officer is something you live 24 / 7, and I am proud of the way I carried myself with transparency, consistency, fairness and honesty over those years.
What drew you to your current career?
My family has a history in law enforcement, and after a fulfilling career as an officer and then Chief, the role of Public Safety Director seemed a logical next step. It allows me to build on the skills and knowledge I’ ve developed over the years and continue making a positive impact on the city I love.
What advice would you give to police chiefs on the brink of retirement who are considering future career paths?
I found it best to not think about my next step until I had finished my work in the Police Department. It was nice to take a step back, decompress and reflect on my career before embarking on a new journey. All in all, I took about eight months off. This is what worked for me, though everyone is different and will have their own preferences.
What was the most challenging part of transitioning from law enforcement to your current career?
It was challenging at first to separate myself from the Police Department, especially since I decided to remain in Hoboken. I had to make sure to show the new police chief respect and let him make the day-to-day decisions that best suit the Department. I also had to adjust to working with non-police officers who possess a mentality focused on long-term solutions instead of the immediate ones to which I was accustomed.
What mindset shifts were necessary for you to succeed outside of policing?
In my current role, I have to be very patient, as direct commands stemming from an emergency have been replaced by a collaborative approach to decision making. I learned very quickly that the best decisions are not made with immediacy. I’ ve also had to familiarize myself with new technologies that we use each day.